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Temperature affects golf balls

During the FJA Invitational, I mentioned to the guys in my group, a study I did while studying engineering at Texas A&M back in the '70's. Briefly, I talked the golf team into helping me with a study for my kinetics class. Namely, does temperature affect how a golf ball flies. The assumption being that, in cooler weather, the ball would not compress as much and therefore, not fly as high or as far as it might in warmer temperatures. The finding were very enlightening and, given it is winter, perhaps they will help y'all.

We started on a September day at roughly 95 degrees F. The guys hit drivers, 3 irons, 6 iron and 9 irons. We did this on later dates at various temperatures. What we found was at 65 degrees F, there was almost an 8 yard loss in distance compared to 95 degrees and, at 45 degrees F, there was another 8 yard loss in distance - WITH EVERY CLUB.

In closing, if you find you are coming up short this winter, it's not you, it's Old Man Winter. I truly hope this helps you play better golf this winter.

It probably does Bob, but not as much as the temperature does. I also recall a study Tom Watson published 30 years ago abuot wind. He claimed his standard tee shot that carried 250 yards only went 190 into a 30 MPH wind.

The other factor that is harder to measure is how the temperature effects your body. In order to get the maximum efficiency from your golf swing your muscles need to be warm and loose. In the cold both of these are difficult to achieve. This also can have another 1 club effect on your distance. this will of course vary with age and athleticism.

Since this study was done a while ago and golf ball technology has been changing quickly year by year to some degree or so woud the new technology affect the study results?? Just curious to hear others thoughts...

Since this study was done a while ago and golf ball technology has been changing quickly year by year to some degree or so woud the new technology affect the study results?? Just curious to hear others thoughts...

Great post Fred and very true. Some folks even will play a different ball thinking that it will help. I have pretty much taken your advice and "clubbed up" accounting for the temp drops up here in New England. My wife has another solution altogether.....put the clubs away for the winter. Like old man winter I am also too stubborn to put them away!